Nettle soup may be hip among foodies and celebrity chefs but for the hard nuts here there'll be no namby-pamby boiling to remove the stingers. At 6pm, competitors have an hour to devour as many neat, raw nettle leaves as possible; whoever ends up with the most leafless stalks – and rash-ridden tongue – will be crowned champion. Bathroom visits and Bonjela are banned but beer-swilling is actively encouraged. Spectators and contestants can also enjoy live music, games and prickle-free pizza. From 11pm, there's a Sting In The Tail after-party in North Chideock with bands, bars, camping – and excessive supplies of dock leaves.

Proving that it is possible to be wonderfully eclectic with just one half of the wind section, this celebration of the power of brass is both comforting and surprising. Julian Germain's photographs of the Durham Miners' Gala, on show at Durham Art Gallery, and the history-inspired Band Stand at the National Railway Museum, Shildon, are two of the artistic highlights, but most will be here for the music. The festival gets off to a classical start in the shape of Opera Gold with the NASUWT Riverside Band; Nicole et Martin present the Musicians Of Bremen in Hardwick Park; while the Stooges Brass Band bring the sound of New Orleans.

For those who prefer hotels to camping, a gentle amble rather than a venue-to-venue dash, and time to digest arts over several weekends rather than in one hell-for-leather event, Harrogate is a festival that ticks all the boxes. Catering for a smart and sophisticated crowd, the fare on offer includes American songbook jazz from Clare Teal, writer Michael Frayn among the literary heavyweights in conversation and – just so it doesn't all get too serious – a rash of Edinburgh comedy previews.